Prime Urquidez would win the MMA featherweight title TODAY

[cross_trainer]

...And he's probably the only guy who could do this. I'd favor Fedor over Bluming despite the latter's credentials. Ditto Jeffries, sadly. Machida or Rua (take your pick) would demolish Vigneron on the ground or standing. Silva would beat Kimura, and BJ Penn would defeat Helio.

But Benny Urquidez was something else. He amassed an incredible career--karate victories, then full contact karate, then wins over the best Japanese (though not Thai) kickboxers. In a lot of cases, the gloves he used were the same size as modern MMA gloves. More importantly for this discussion, he'd probably have adequate takedown defense:


* He won a pseudo-MMA-ish competition for several years running that permitted throws and 10-15 seconds of groundwork, plus elbows and knees. His last opponent outweighed him by eighty pounds, and was considered a pretty good karateka (though not a great grappler, obviously).

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* One if his (NINE) blackbelts was in Judo





* This:

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Oh, and here's a highlight I found:

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[Beebs]

He would absolutely be a force; champion though?

Jose Aldo, Mike Brown, and Imanari (based on style) would be very very dangerous; I would certainly favor Aldo and Brown.

Regardles, Benny deserves so much credit for making weight when his balls must have been about 15lb each.

He was never afraid to try something different, and usually came out on top no matter what.

[cross_trainer]

He would absolutely be a force; champion though?

Jose Aldo, Mike Brown, and Imanari (based on style) would be very very dangerous; I would certainly favor Aldo and Brown.

Regardles, Benny deserves so much credit for making weight when his balls must have been about 15lb each.

He was never afraid to try something different, and usually came out on top no matter what.

Great takedown artists would be the biggest worry, and Urquidez's training DEFINITELY puts him at a disadvantage vis-a-vis modern MMA guys. That being said, he's probably the only fighter who has the combination of decent grappling and incredible striking to pull this off.

I was also considering an Urquidez vs. Aldo fight directly, rather than multiple (risky) tuneups. Since Aldo relies primarily on his striking, he's a good fight for Urquidez. Brown probably beats him.

[IntentionalButt]

Great takedown artists would be the biggest worry, and Urquidez's training DEFINITELY puts him at a disadvantage vis-a-vis modern MMA guys. That being said, he's probably the only fighter who has the combination of decent grappling and incredible striking to pull this off.

I was also considering an Urquidez vs. Aldo fight directly, rather than multiple (risky) tuneups. Since Aldo relies primarily on his striking, he's a good fight for Urquidez. Brown probably beats him.

We have yet to witness the full depth of Aldo's game, methinks.

He does in practice rely primarily on it, but that doesn't necessarily mean he has to. :good

A meeting with prime Urq would be a bit of a stare into the abyss for both.

[cross_trainer]

We have yet to witness the full depth of Aldo's game, methinks.

He does in practice rely primarily on it, but that doesn't necessarily mean he has to. :good

True, and a good point. Naturally, I can only judge what I've seen--which may only be a fraction of what Aldo's capable of.

[196osh]

Aldo is also aparently a BJJ blackbelt and if he is a good blackbelt then he has ground credentials too.

[cross_trainer]

Aldo is also aparently a BJJ blackbelt and if he is a good blackbelt then he has ground credentials too.

Right. I agree that Aldo would beat Urquidez on the ground, but the question is whether he could get him there before getting KO'd.

[IntentionalButt]

Right. I agree that Aldo would beat Urquidez on the ground, but the question is whether he could get him there before getting KO'd.

A meeting with prime Urq would be a bit of a stare into the abyss for both.


In my mind's eye it's just simultaneous body kicks from soup to nuts, with each looking to launch quick rocket lead rights or combinations during any pinpoint moments where they're more squared up on their feet than the other. It may come down to blind luck, somebody landing something big during a brief lapse in the opponent's balance. As steady as Jose is, that might favor Urquidez with his pyramidal center of gravity and slightly better recovery (we're talking the difference of less than an instant, a fraction of a blink but can make all the difference) following a high kick.

After a few minutes, if both were still conscious they'd settle down into a respectful cobra and mongoose groove. Would be very interesting from there. Distance would favor Aldo.

[196osh]

That is indeed the question.

I think that Aldo's stand up is good enough for him to hang even though odds are benny is a better stand up fighter. I have no idea how good Aldo's TDs are.

[Beebs]

Great takedown artists would be the biggest worry, and Urquidez's training DEFINITELY puts him at a disadvantage vis-a-vis modern MMA guys. That being said, he's probably the only fighter who has the combination of decent grappling and incredible striking to pull this off.

I was also considering an Urquidez vs. Aldo fight directly, rather than multiple (risky) tuneups. Since Aldo relies primarily on his striking, he's a good fight for Urquidez. Brown probably beats him.

I would think Brown would have the more dangerous of the two.

Obviously this is all after at least 2 fights against non-contenders, getting hit with elbows on the face on the ground, the feel of the gloves, these things can be a bit of a shock to the senses.

[IntentionalButt]

That is indeed the question.

I think that Aldo's stand up is good enough for him to hang even though odds are benny is a better stand up fighter. I have no idea how good Aldo's TDs are.

I suspect they're marvelous. More of a lemonade-out-of-lemons situation than a classical TD, but the beginning of the end for Brown came when he missed the lunging hook and Aldo just grabbed and twisted his torso, popped his shoulder forward, and Brown was wriggling his feet in the air like a flipped beetle before you could say WTF. It wasn't even forceful, it was just all timing, presence of mind, and subtle application of strength - upper and lower body, and instinct. You'd have to imagine if he wanted to make it a limbo party he could take it low with just about anyone.

If he gets near enough to breathe on Benny it's over. But as CT said, therein lies the rub. Aldo seems to have a good chin (still so many questions!!) but...

[Beebs]

How about Benny vs Andy Souwer in a Shoot Boxing match? That would be one of the coolest old vs new matchups, as both guys have fought under rules either the exact same or close to it.

Shoot Boxing is basically like San Shou but with standing submissions allowed, I also think the striking is more like Muay Thai as it allows for elbows, if it doesn't then for our match it will. We could also make them wear MMA gloves for better throws and subs; also we will take away all limits on standup fighting; we could even go with 5 min rounds.

Other opponents could be Kraus, Macha Sakuri (too big though), Kenichi Ogata (also too big I think, don't know much about him) or one that might be just as interesting if not as competitive is Jens Pulver.

Or any of the good strikers at 145 in MMA, too many to list; I don't think many of them would be much competition to Benny or the real Shoot Boxers.

Oh the possibilities.

[196osh]

Andy Souwer has thee most accurate hands I have ever seen the guy hardly wastes any punches at all.